Poinsettia Perfection

If you love this time of year like we do here at The Garden Center, you know you must must must have a poinsettia, or 2 or like me a dozen! This year we have the most beautiful selection of floral quality poinsettias in town. We are featuring the Winter Rose Poinsettia as pictured here, as well as tree poinsettias that are at least 4 feet tall! In addition to those we have white , pink, classic red, and a beautiful bicolored poinsettia called "Monet". All Christmas items are also on sale and that includes the poinsettias, and the cut fresh trees! Come on over and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with us San Antonio!
~Fa La La La LAAAAA!
Donna

In all things be thankful

I find myself rushing here and there, juggling work, and holidays, and family this time of year, but it's in the small silent moments that I stop and realize how blessed I am. A good garden must be tended, loved, and fertilized, just as our hearts, minds , and souls must be. I am truly thankful this season for my Garden Center family, co-workers, and our wonderful family of customers and friends, it's all of you that truly make me thankful to call The Garden Center home.

Happy Thanksgiving

`Donna

Let's deck the halls!

I know, I know...where has the year gone? The good news is that now we get to start one of our most favorite seasons of the year! CHRISTMAS!!! I have to brag a bit here, we have some of the most amazing hand picked artificial trees on the market today. We don't just sit down in front of a catalog and order from a picture in a book. I personally jumped on a plane, jetted to several different show rooms in the country to find the most beautiful, exclusive trees for you! We pulled on the cords, plucked at the needles, counted the lights, and everything else we could do before we settled on the 2009 tree selection! You say you want traditional, we got it. LED...got it! Artificial trees that grow with your families needs...got them too! I'm so excited now I can't even think straight, so go jump in the car and come see us, we'll keep the cider warm!

Snappy!

Snap dragons are here people, shout it from the roof tops! Few plants are as cool as a snap dragon. The blooms are so detailed, and they practically glow. They are great in landscapes, and come in a variety of sizes depending on the particular style you choose. If you plant snaps in the fall, you not only get a beautiful fall set, with our mild winters , snap dragons pop back out to greet you again in the spring. That's a win/win in my book! I love fall...and snapdragons!

Were Psyched!

We are psyched about our cyclamen! Want to add some color indoors. Cyclamen do great in a cool room with a lot of bright light. They can bloom indoors for several months at a time. If the room is a bit on the toasty side just mist them every few days to keep them at their best. Alternatively, if you are the outdoor type, like us, plant your cyclamen in a nice shady spot that gets good indirect light, and enjoy them all through a mild San Antonio winter. Where ever you put them we are sure you are gonna love them. Ready , set, plant !

~Donna

Life is a garden!

You know the old saying, "Life's a beach!" Life isn't always a beach, sometimes life is a garden. Gardens are a lot like life , if you want to get good stuff out of it, you have to put good into it, and cultivate the things that make you stronger. With that said, now is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the winter. A few simple steps will make all the difference in the world. Fertilize... now is an excellent time to fertilize your existing trees, shrubs, and lawn. The cooler temps and rain will help the fertilizers absorb easier than they did in the awful summer heat. You can always tell a lawn in the spring that was fertilized in the fall. Mulching...it's time to redress those beds and get all your plants snug and cozy under a fresh layer of mulch. This does two things for you. Mulch insulates against temperaturs, and helps retain moisture. Good mulch practices will garuntee great spring results on all those perennials we all love so much.
Water... I know I know, something as simple as water. Plants need water in the winter as well, they don't always need as much, so don't go crazy, but they do need water. Just because you can't see them growing doesn't mean they aren't. The ground stays fairly warm here even in the winter, so those roots, (the ones you are thinking about fertilizing now) they are still active under the soil. A good rule of thumb is at least once a week with a good soak, unless rain is forcasted. There are hundreds of other tips and tricks in cultivating life and Gardens! Stop by and see us if we can help you, at least with the garden parts!


"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. " ~Hans Christian Anderson

~Donna

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Heellllo Fall, goodbye summer. I suspect you, like me, are beginning to get that itch to plant again. The weather is nicer, we've had a few drops of rain, and everyone just seems to feel better now that the 100 + days are behind us. Let me just say that we are so excited about the fall season. Trees are a must, the next 3 months are prime for planting trees and shrubs. Fall color, orange, red, yellow, all must haves in the fall garden. We have mums, loads of perennials, and the first crops of cool season flowers are arriving as I type. Hurry out to the shed, dust off the shovel and trowel, and come by for some help planning and prepping those fall gardens. We can't wait to get our hands dirty....How bout you?

See you in the Fall garden!

~Donna

D.I.Y Here!

Do it yourselfers, never fear! You know you have the power to get the job done. We have the plans to make it happen for you, for FREE. The sketch attached is a simple landscape drawn up for a customer in the past that was landscaping a gazebo area. I would love to help you as well. When you purchase any or all of the materials in the plan (that we come up with together) the sketch becomes yours to keep, for free, like a map for your landscape. Work on the yard one bed at a time, or let us help you do it all at once. We even offer installation and bed prep on landscape jobs. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing we've help our neighbors make the most informed decisions about our areas plants and landscapes. It's a simple process, just give me a call, within a matter of days you'll be on your way to a great gardening experience too!

See you in your newly landscaped garden!

~Donna

One proud plant!

Who can resist this firework style display of orange red and yellow in a summer garden. The Mexican Bird of paradise, or Pride of Barbados is an outstanding Texas superstar plant boasting drought tolerance, summer long blooms, and perennial return on the investment. The plant can get 5-6 feet tall and wide, creating a spectacular display, even on 100 degree days like we've had lately. Stop in and see all of our drought tolerant selections at the nursery this season!

~Donna

There is always hope in my garden!

The word esperanza means hope in Spanish, and how can you not be hopeful looking out the window on these beautiful plants. They seem to thrive in the heat here in south Texas. Esperanza is just one of the many examples of heat tolerant/drought tolerant plants that we carry here at the nursery. Don't let the long summer San Antonio days get you down. Take hope in the fact that every season brings something to be thankful for when you garden!

Keep cool San Antonio ~Donna

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

This is quite possibly the best Vinca on the market. It's the "CORA" variety, and it can't be beat for heat tolerance, and Disease resistance. 100 degrees means nothing to these guys. Bring on the sun, and the color with the cora vinca series. The plants come in an array of colors, and get 12-18" tall, they will bloom well into the fall and many of our customers have even had success with them reseeding in their beds the next season. Summer sun...no problem, vincas got you covered!
See you in the summer garden!
Donna

Crape Myrtle Compulsion!

It's crape myrtle time folks, and we have the greatest selection at the greatest prices anywhere in town. Crape Myrtles range in size from shrub forms that are 2 feet tall to tree forms that are 35 feet tall. There are many colors to choose from, as well as shapes and styles. Let us help you choose the best crape myrtle to accent your landscape and garden.

See you in the garden!

A Plethora of Pottery

If it's color you want, we got it! Our newest shipment of pottery is here and the colors are superb. Come in and let us help you brighten up your life with the new "ATOMIC" line of pottery. You won't find a glazed product like this anywhere else but here!See you in the garden!

~Donna

Chase that tree!

This is one tree you won't mind chasing after. The Chase Tree, or VITEX. This tree is a stand out ornamental in any garden. The vitex can get 12-15 feet high and 10-12 feet wide. Good pruning practice at a young age will help with the trunk structure. The pale blue/lavender blooms start in late spring and continue all summer long. The plants are drought tolerant once established, and are super fast growers. Butterflies and hummingbirds love em, and so do we. It's time for a little summer gardening! Come see us and let us help you make your garden great!

~Donna

Don't Forget Mom!

Mother's Day is this Sunday....Never Fear we have hundreds of beautiful plants ranging from custom baskets like these to house plants and tropicals. We also have gift certificates and offer planting services. What Mom wants , Mom should get! Stop by and let us make your Mother's Day shopping a breeze!

Happy Earth, Happy People!

Thank you San Antonio for helping us make our 2nd annual Earth Day Event a smash! We are so excited to be a part of the neighborhood , community, and this big wonderful world. In the last 2 years we have given away over 500 trees in honor of Earth Day. Here's a little statistic to think about:
"The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day."—U.S. Department of Agriculture
"Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home." — American Public Power Association
"If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%." —Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research
"A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000." —Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
"In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%." —Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests
"Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent."—Management Information Services/ICMA
"One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."—U.S. Department of Agriculture
"There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs."—National Wildlife Federation
"Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 - 50 percent in energy used for heating."—USDA Forest Service
Some estimates conclude that 100 trees remove up to five tons of CO2, 400 pounds of ozone, and 300 pounds of small particulate matter. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service determined that trees in New York City annually removed more than 1,800 metric tons of air pollution from that city’s atmosphere, and estimated that the value of this service to society was approximately $9.5 million.

Keep it green!
Thanks San Antonio!
~Donna

Everything's coming up Roses!

I have to say without a doubt that this years crop of roses are by far some of the most beautiful I have seen in some time. We have all colors and sizes, from the earth kind and knockouts, to hybrid teas, rugosas, and climbers. All colors, and varieties to suit all gardens. First time rose growers, come by and see the knockout series of roses, we guarantee success with these guys! I beg your pardon....we do promise you a rose garden! See you SOON in the garden!

~Donna

Texas Mountain Laurel

:SCRATCH AND SNIFF:

I know, I know, computer technology isn't to the scratch and sniff phase yet, but...The Garden Center is! I took these photos in my front yard today, and it was just heavenly. If you want to put a little piece of heaven in your front yard, or just stop by the nursery and smell it for yourself, now is the time. We have 5 different sizes of Mt. Laurel in stock and they are all blooming beautifully. They have a strong sweet fragrance and are very easy to grow. Texas Mountain Laurel are considered large shrubs or small trees, ranging anywhere from 6 - 20 feet tall and up to 12 feet wide. They can be shaped to form a classic tree or left full to the base depending on preference.The flowers are lavender/purple/blue and bloom in late winter/early spring. They enjoy the alkaline soil which makes them perfect for our area. They are considered a slow to moderate grower, but once you smell those flowers, it's totally worth the wait.

Enough typing I've gotta get back out to MY garden!

~Donna

Onions, Potatoes, Garlic...oh my!

We have seed potatoes, onion sets, garlic and shallots by the pound now available at the nursery. There's no better way to have organic veggies than to grow them yourself. Our staff is on hand to help you with any planting questions, or check out these links for more in depth planting and spacing answers:

These websites have loads of planting suggestions.

for potatoes

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/potato.html

for onions/shallots

http://www.magicvalleygrowers.com/onionsets/

for garlic

http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/How_to_Grow_Garlic

See you in the vegetable garden!

~Donna

Redbuds

Redbuds have arrived at the nusery folks! Every year I know spring has finally made it to town when I see those bright pink blossoms all over the neighborhoods. Redbuds are a great small ornamental tree for this area and depending on the variety you get, they will range in height from 12 to 20 feet tall. They bloom in the early spring and then set large heart shaped leaves that last late into the fall. Redbuds come in single or multi trunks and the shade of pink can vary slightly depending on the cultivar. The tree is an average water consumer, but can handle a little drought once it is well established. Viva la Spring!

Red Oaks

This photo is a close up of the fall color you find on the Texas Red Oak. Red Oaks are pretty common in the southern central areas and have a great adaptability to our rocky soils. The Shumard Red and the Texas Red both grow well here, although some folks say the Shumard takes a bit longer to establish, and as a result isn't as drought tolerant from the get go, but adapts quickly.

height ~ 30-50 feet, but are capable of getting taller in the right setting

width ~ 20-40 feet

deciduous in nature

high heat tolerance

produce small reddish brown acorns

Chinese Pistache

This tree is on the Aggie Horticulture superstar plant list as a fantastic selection for a long lived, medium to large shade tree.

The tree is deciduous , which means it sheds it's leaves in the winter, but before it sheds it puts on a spectacular show with its red orange leaves.

-Average height 30-40 feet

-Average width 20 -30 feet

-High pest resistance

The tree prefers full sun and is great for all parts of Texas.

Monterrey Oak

If you are in the market for a tree, the Monterrey Oak is on the top of my list. Also known as the Mexican White Oak, Quercus polymorpha is a great native tree for San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Here's a little break down of what it has to offer:

~semi evergreen, holding leaves through most of the winter

~approximately 40'high x 30' wide at maturity

~considered one of the fastest growing oaks

~highly disease resistant

~large leathery leaves

If you have any questions about this tree or any other tree at the nursery give us a call

210-647-7900

~Donna

This that and something else all together...

The nursery is growing and expanding and so is my blog. We now have several designers on staff to help with your custom planter needs, so I've decided to change the blog up and become more interactive. I'll be featuring plants and garden ideas that come my way. If you have a fantastic garden idea, or a plant that needs identified, load it up on the blog, or send it to me via email. donna@thegardencenter.com
See you in the garden!
Donna

Plant-o-lanterns are here!

Don't let the name fool ya

They might be called pansies, but they are tough little critters. If you are looking for reliable winter color, these guys won't let you down. They can take the coldest weather Texas has to offer and still greet you with shining faces every morning. We have em, and you know you want em. New shipments of winter color are starting to arrive weekly. Come see whats growing in the garden.

Happy Hallo-planter

Planters are an all occasion great gift idea. Having a halloween party? Try making up a couple planters with oranges and purples, you might just scare yourself at how creative you can be. Happy Halloween, and Happy Planting!

Fall planting time

Not only is fall a great time for planting trees and shrubs, it's also great for planters. Got a fall event coming up, add a splash of color with a container garden. Stop in and let one of our friendly staff assist you in creating thr perfect planter.

Here a mum there a mum

Mums are an excellent container plant for anyone from master gardener to novice. They are low maintainence, low water users (proper watering is a must though), and come in an array of stunning colors. Mums ...gotta love em'

Forget-me-not foliage

Too often I hear people say that they love beautiful planters but just can seem to keep flowers alive. Well, here's a simple solution. Eliminate the flower part. There are hundreds of different foliage plants in all shapes and colors,available throughout the year.Play with shape and texture, and in no time flat you will be a fool for foliage plants just like me.